Traveling suction cleaning apparatus



Dec. 5, 1961 G.- B. HOLTZCLAW TRAVELING SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed sept. s, 1958 'CgovlzI B. HoufzCLAw,

ATTORNEYS Dec. 5, 1961 s. a. HoLrzcLAw TRAVELING SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 8, 1958 GROW-R B. HoLTzCKLAw ATTORNEYS Dec. 5, 1961 s. a. HoLrzcLAw 3,011,202

TRAVELING sUcTIoN CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 8, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY 5 United Stes atent 3 011 202 TRAVELING SUCTION CLEANING APPARATUS Grover B. Hoitzclaw, Char-Botte, NC., assigner to Park- Cramer Company, Fitchburg, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Sept. 8, 1958, Ser. No. 759,797 25 Claims. (C1. 15-312) "This invention relates to a novel traveling cleaning apparatus particularly devised for removing lint, dust, and other light material from room and machine surfaces in manufacturing plants, particularly in textile mills.

Many diiferent types of textile machines are used for processing textile fibers to produce yarns therefrom and to produce the finished fabrics from the yarns. Such machines include pickers, carding machines, drawing frames, combers, roving frames, spinning frames, twister frames, winders, knitting machines and looms. As textile fibers are processed on these and other types of machines, short broken bers or any insecurely retained longer fibers, tend to be thrown out to iioat in the air as fly and settle as lint on various parts of the related machines, on the floor, under the machines, in the aisles between adjacent machines, and on other objects or surfaces in the room.

Many manufacturing plants employ some type of blower means in association with certain of such machines or a traveling blower means which traverses rows of such machines for directing blasts of 'air against various parts of the machines for removing accumulations of lint, dust and the like from various parts of the machines so that such material settles to the oor. Sweeping mill oors, or otherwise collecting fibers which have collected thereon, has always been a problem.

rVarious devices have been made heretofore to move accumulations of lint and the like along the floor and between the machines, such devices having included means directing blasts of air against the oor or beneath the machines and toward a central location. While many of the prior devices have performed well in some respects, the blasts of air directed against or along the iloor in the aisles between the machines have, in many instances, resulted in scattering lint and other light particles so that many such particles would again settle upon the machines orV textile material being processed to detrimentally affect the quality of the yarns or other products in process of manufacture. Even when moved to a central location, the problem of removing the collected lint still remained.` The use of portable suction devices for removing lint and the like from oors has been proposed heretofore. A typical portable suction device isdisclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,586,145 granted to G. W. Breuer et al. This and other prior suction devices for floor sweeping have proved largely impractical for use in textile mills. They are not fully automatic and considerable hand labor is required in connection with their use. To my knowledge, there has never, heretofore, been afsatisfactory method of rcleaning the floors of a' textile mill automatically. Many attempts have been made to overcome the problem created by the accumulations of lint uponsurfaces of textile machines and upon room surfaces, in which automaticairsuction devices have been used to remove lint as it is shed or to remove it from machine surfaces where it may alight shortly after being shed. To my' knowledge, the nearest approach to a practical means for automatically removing lint fromthe atmosphere adjacentVV the machines by a traveling unit is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 1,892,751 granted to W. LSmith onlanuary 3, 1933.

As far as I know, this device was never used commer-J ice As far as I know, no previous attempt has been made to lessen the lint problem in textile mills by the use of one or more traveling units, each of which draws lint from the air into a container as the unit travels rand delivers its collected lint periodically into a common preferably stationary receptacle.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel apparatus for removing lint and other light material which may tend to accumulate on textile and analogous machines, on the oor, under the machines, in the aisles between adjacent machines and on other objects or surfaces in the room, which apparatus comprises means for producing suction currents closely adjacent various elements of textile machines, the floor in the aisle between adjacent textile machines and other surfaces in the room with means for moving the suction currents along rows of such machines for sucking lint and other light particles of foreign matter off of said elements, the oor, and said other surfaces. The suction currents, and the lint and other particles picked up thereby, are channeled into a collection chamber movable with the suction currents, and means are provided for intermittently exhausting the lint and other particles from the chamber into a preferably stationary receptacle.

It is another object of this invention to provide apparatus of the character described which is embodied in a traveling cleaner comprising a blower movable upon a track located above a row or rows of textile machines with a tubular member connected to the air inlet of the blower at one or opposite sides of the textile machines. The tubular members are provided with suction nozzles which are so arranged as to be disposed in close proximity to elements of the machines, to the floor on which the textile machines are located, and close to other `room and/ or machine surfaces past and above which the blower moves. The blower produces suction currentsrin the nozzles and the tubular members and also produces a blast of air which is directed into a communicating collection chamber movable with the blower and which is at least partially perforate Iand is provided with a normally closed discharge opening therein which may be momentarily opened for discharging the contents of the collection chamber therefrom'.

Another object is to provide a normally closed, preferably stationary, collection device or receptacle positioned closely adjacent the path of travel of the traveling cleaner for receiving the lint and other foreign matter, the receptacle preferably beingY provided with suitable su-ction means for carrying the waste, lint and other particles directed thereinto away from the same to a common collecting station. A,

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application entitled Method of Cleaning Floors in Textile Mills, Serial No. 757,809 filed August 28, 1958.

Some of the objects ofthe invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds vwhen taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in'which- 'FIGURE l isa schematic plan 'View showing an il-y broken away of the area identied by the numeral 2 `in FGURE 1, lshowing the traveling cleaner in registration with the inletiof a stationary collection receptacle with door means of the traveling collection chamber andthe receptacle in opened position; v

FIGURE 3 is an elevation taken substantially along line 3--3 in FIGURE 2, being partially in section'and with portions of the. suction tubes and support for the.

` trackway broken away;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary isometric View, with parts broken away, showing one of the stationary collection receptacles with the inlet door thereof occupying closed position; FIGURES 5 and 6 are fragmentary isometric views of the discharge end of the traveling collection chamber looking from below and showing the door in closed and opened positions, respectively;

FIGURE 7 Vis an enlarged fragmentary elevation of the upper portion of the traveling cleaner shown in FIG- URE 3, with portions broken away and in section and showing the door of the traveling collection chamber in `Closed position;

FIGURE S is a lfragmentary elevation taken substantially along line S-Sin FIGURE 7 and showing the means for operating the door of the traveling collection chamber in position for holding the door open;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary plan view taken substantially along line 9-,9 in FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged view similar to the righthand portion of FIGURE 3, but showing a spinning machine between modified dependent tubes provided with nozzles for sucking lint from various elements of the machine as well as from the oor;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional View, through one of the elevated nozzles, taken substantially along line lll-1l in FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged sectional plan view of one of the floor-sweeping nozzles, taken along line I2f 12 in FIGURE 10;

FIGURE i3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along line 13s-1.3 in FIGURE l2 and showing means for sucking blown-up lint into the tube.

Referring to` FIGURE 1, a layout of several rows of textile or other machines is shown and several of the improved traveling suction cleaners are shown in association therewith, this layout being typical of an arrangement of textile machinery, such as spinning and twisting machines, in a room of a textile mill. There are eight rows of longitudinally extending spinning frames or other textile machines shown in FIGURE 1 which are respectively designated at a through h. Although the manner in which the present cleaning system is installed may be varied, in this instance three of -tthe novel traveling suction cleaners are shown in association with the eight rows of machines, which cleaners are respectively broadly designated at A, A and A. These three. traveling cleaners are mounted on respective sets of endless trackways B, B and B" which are spaced above theY respective pars of rows of machines d, e; a, b and g, h, there being nol trackways. required above the rows c and f, as will be explained hereinafter.

Hollow or tubular stationary wastev receptacles C, Cl

and'Cl are located adjacent the respective trackwaysy B, B and B. In this instance, the stationary waste receptacles C, C and; C are positioned adjacent corresponding looped en/dportions of the respective traclways.A B, B and B, andcorresponding ends of thev stationary waste receptacles communicate with a duct Ztl suitably supported adjacent the rows of machines a-h. The duct Ztl extends toa suitable waste collecting station 21 shown schematically as a suction collecting unit in FIGURE l.

Since the traveling cleaners A, A and A, the respective tracl ways B, B and B, and the respective stationary waste receptacles C, C land C maybe identical, only the traveling cleaner A, its trackway B, and the stationary waste receptacle C will be described in detail and, where applicable, the traveling cleaners A and A and associated elements will bear the same reference characters.

As best shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 7, the suction traveling cleaner A comprises air circulating. means including a centrifugal blower in the form of a volute upperblower casing 2.5 having a substantially circular body 26 with which an offset outlet portion 2.7 communicates. The upper end of the blower casing 25 is closed, preferably by a removable cover or plate 30, which may be removed for cleaning the interior of the blower casing 25 and an impeller wheel 31 therein. The impeller wheel 3l is iixed on the shaft 32 of an electric motor 33. The motor 33 rides upon a carriage 47 of the suction cleaner A.

The blower casing 25 rests upon and is suitably secured to a substantially circular central portion 34 of a suction casing broadly designated at 35, the lower wall of the central portion 34 being suitably secured to a flange or ring 37 encircling the enlarged upper portion of electric motor 33. The llange 37 is suitably secured to electric motor 33 by any suitable means, such as brackets 40. It will be observed in FIGURE 7 that the proximal walls of blower casing 25 and suction casing 3S are cut away to provide an air inlet opening 4I through which air is drawn by impeller wheel 31 to be discharged through outlet portion 2.7 (FIGURE 2) of blower casing 25.

As best shown in FIGURE 3, the substantially circular medial portion 34 of the suction casing 35 is provided with a pair of diarnetrically opposed, radially and outwardly extending spouts or ducts 43, 44 (see also FIGURE 2) whichV communicate with the central portion 34 of suction housing 35 and each of which curves downwardly at its free end. The free end of each of the ducts 43, 44 has a tube 45, prefere ly of pliable or flexible construction, communicatively connected thereto and depending therefrom, to the lower end of which a liared or substantially bell-shaped nonzled is communicatively connected.

The carriage 47 (FIGURES 3, 7 and 8) has suitable carriage rollers or wheels journaled thereon which ride upon tracks 51, 52. Tracks 51, 52 comprise tracltway B and are supported by suitable U-shaped brackets 53 mounted on posts 54, only one of each being shown in FIGURES 3 and 7. Electric motor 33` drives shaft 52 for rotating the fan or impeller wheel 31 and one or more of the carriage rollers 5i! by suitable conventionalgearing within the carriage 47 such as is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,011,763, granted to W. B. Hodgeet al. on August 20, 1935. Energization of electric motor 33 may also be eiected in substantially the manner disclosed in said Patent No. 2,011,763.

.It will be notedv that the lower end of each nozzle, 46 is disposed in close proximity to the floor F on which the machines of FIGURE 1 are located. As the traveling cleaner Almoves along trackway B, impeller wheel 3L createsA a continuousy suction current at each nozzle 46- which causes lint and other light particles upon the floor F to be drawn into each nozzle 46, through the respec- -tive tube 45, into ducts 43 or 44 and into the centralY portion 34 of suction casing 35. The suction current then passes upwardly through opening 41 (FIGURE 7) and' into the volute blower casing 25 where it is convertedinto a blowingV or positive air pressure current which passes outwardly through the outlet portion 27 of volute blower casing 25.

Since each suction tube 45 (FIGURE 3) isex-ible or pliable, it is subject to considerable swaying under inuence of chance air currents in the aislesthrough whichv it passes, centrifugal eiect when going around a track bend, or slight variation in the relative height of the two tracks 51, S2, which variation may be purposely introduced when the tracks are installed. For one or more of- `r these reasons, movement of -the traveling suction cleaner A along trackway B is usually accompanied by a variable side-sway of each tube' 45 and nozzle 46, with the result that, on repeated trips, the nozzle removes lint and other light particles` substantially throughout the entire width of thel usual aisle` and even-tosome extentl from beneath vrthe machines.V Itis contemplated that-v mechanical means, other YthanY variation in the relative height of tracks $1-, 52, may be employed" to produce oscillatory transverse movement of each suction nozzle 46 as it travels longitudinal-ly of a corresponding aisle. It should also be noted that the flexibility of each tube 45 permits the same to yield and to be readily displaced, vertically and/ or horizontally, upon the tube, or the nozzle 46 thereon, encountering any obstruction in its path of travel.

Communicatively connected to the outlet portion 27 of blower casing 25 is a box-like traveling collector, collection chamber or coniined collection zone broadly designated at 60 and comprising opposed side walls 61, a top wall y62 and a bottom wall 63. An inverted substantially U-shaped hood 64 is suitably secured to and extends outwardly from side walls 61 and top wall 62 of collection chamber 60.

The top wall 62 is suitably perforated or provided with a foraminated or screened opening 65 serving as a filter through which air escapes from the collection chamber 60 leaving behind the fibers and other particles directed into the collection chamber 6). Referring to FIGURE 6, the free end of collection chamber 60 is provided with a discharge opening 67 which is normally substantially closed by a screened or foraminated door or cover 70 pivotally or hingedly connected, as at 71, to bottom wall 63 of collection chamber 6i).

When door 7 0 occupies closed position, as in FIGURE 5, some air is exhausted through door 70 while lint and other particles are retained within collection chamber 66. When door 7) occupies operi position, as in FIG- URE 6, the lint arid other matter is discharged from collection chamber 60 through discharge opening 67 by the force of the air stream. Thus, the stream of air moves generally parallel to and against the filter 65' for cleaning the same.

Means are provided for momentarily opening door 70 of collection chamber 60 so the contents of collection chamber 60 are discharged into the stationary waste receptacle C to be presently described. A preferred means for controlling the operation of door 70 is best shown in FIGURES 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 wherein it will be observed that one side portion of door 70 has one leg of a bracket 72 suitably secured thereto, this bracket preferably being substantially U-shaped so as to clear the corresponding side portions of hood 64. The other leg of bracket 72 has one end of a link 73 pivotally connected thereto above the level at which door 70 is hingedly connected to the lower wall 63 of traveling collection chamber 60. Link 73 extends inwardly toward the trackway B and has a universal joint or connector 7d thereon for connecting the same toone arrn of a bell crank 75 (FIGURE 9).

Bell crank 75 is pivotally mounted, as at 76, on one of the brackets 46 and the other arm thereof is pivotally connected by a slot-arid-pin connection, as at 77, to one end of a plunger or shifter rod 80. Shifter rod 80 is guided for horizontal sliding movement, substantially parallel to the trackway B, in guide blocks 81 suitably secured to or formed integral with respective brackets 40.

Shifter rod titl is encircled by a compression spring 82, one end of which bears against the right-hand or frontbearing block 81 and the other end of whichbears against a cuff member 33 fixed on the shaftior shifter rod r80. The cuff S3 is attached to or formed integral with the vertical leg of a `substantially L-shaped follower arm 84v whose lower horizontal portion has al pair of cam followers or rollers 85 thereon. The cam lfollowers 85 are urged against the periphery of a substantially sym- 6 arm 84 is retained on the shaft 87 by a suitable collar 91 fixed on the reduced free end of the shaft Y87.

The cam 86 is formed integral with or suitably secured to a rotatable actuating member or star wheel 92 which is also rotatably mounted on the shaft 87. The star wheel 92 is provided with a plurality of circularly arranged eccentric arms or abutments X-l through X-8. The arms or abutments X-l, X-3, X-S and X-7 are adapted to engage adjustable trip fingers 94, 95 carried by the track 52 of trackway B. The arms X-Z, X-4, X-6 and X-8 are not necessarily used in this particular instance, but are provided so that the star wheel 92 may be used with either side thereof facing outwardly relative to motor 33 and depending upon the direction of movement of the traveling cleaner unit along trackway B.

In this instance, the trip ngers 94 and 95 are positioned in spaced relationship substantially opposite the corre-V sponding stationary waste receptacle C so as to cause the door 70 (FIGURES 5 and 6) to open and then close as the traveling cleaner A moves past the respective stationary waste receptacle C, in a manner to be later described. Each of the trip fingers 94 and 95 has a downwardly extending stem 96 thereon which is guided within a fixed tubular lower portion 97 of a bracket l100 suit,- ably secured to and depending from the track 52 of the trackway B. rIhe upper end of-the tubular portion 97 is provided with a stop 101 thereon against which the corresponding trip iinger may be turned by manipulation of a handle or hand wheel 102. provided on the lower end of the stem 96, below the level of the corresponding tubular portion 97.

It is apparent that, when either or both'of the trip fingers 94, 95 need not be used, they may be turned, by manipulation of the corresponding hand wheel 102, so as to extend parallel to the track 52 and out of the path of travel of the star wheel 92. On the other hand, when the trip lingers 94 and 95 are turned outwardly as shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, the stops 101 on the upper ends of the tubular portions 97 cause the respective trip lingers 94 and 95 to remain stationary as the corresponding arms of the star wheel 92 engage the same.

In operation, when the carriage 47 of traveling cleaner A has moved from left to right, asin FIGURE 8, it is apparent that arm X-7 is the last to have engaged trip finger 94. As arm X7 engages trip finger 94, with movement of traveling cleaner A from left to right, trip finger 94 causes star wheel 92 to rotate one-fourth of a revolution so it occupies the position shown in FIGURE 8. In so doing, the corresponding lobe or high point of cam 86 moves out of engagement with followers or rollers on follower arm 84, permitting spring 82 to expand to the left. i

, Thus, bell crank '75 (FIGURE 9) Y is rotated in a clockwise direction to occupy the position shown and causes link 73ste move outwardly relative to traveling cleaner A and trackway B. As link 73 is thus moved outwardly, door 70 is pivoted about hinge 71 from the closed position shown in FIGURE 5 to the open position shown in FIGURE 6. Thus, while the cleaner A occupies the position Vshown in FIGURE 8, blower 25 causes the contents of traveling collection chamber. 6d to be dis' charged into the stationary waste receptacle C. At the same time, means may be provided, as hereinafter -de-j scribed, for causingl the collected material to be con: veyed to a central unit 21.

-It is apparent that, with further left-to-right movement of the cleaner in FIGURE 8, the arm X-1 engages the second trip nger which again effects a quarter-revolul inward movement to link 73 and move door 70 from the Y' 7 open position of FIGURE 6 to the closed position of FIGURE 5.

As heretofore stated, the stationary waste receptacle C is in the form of a substantially rectangular tube or duct although it need not be limited to this construction. The stationary waste receptacle C comprises opposed side walls 109 (FIGURE 4), a top wall 111i and a bottom wall 111, which are sutably attached to duct 2t? (FIGURES l and 2) to provide communication between the duct 2i) and the stationary receptacle C. Top wall 110 preferably projects beyond the vertical plane cf bottom wall 111, as shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, so as to assist in deecting downwardly any lint or the like which may be blown upwardly during opening and closing movements of the door 70 of traveling collection chamber eli.

It will be observed in FIGURE 4 that, although the free end of the stationary waste receptacle C is open, the outer ends of a pair of inwardly converging panels or baffle plates 112, 113 are connected to side walls 169 adjacent the free edge of the lower or bottom ywall 111. The inner ends of panels 112, 113 are spaced apart (FIG- URE 2) to provide an ingress or waste-receiving opening 114 within the stationary waste receptacle C. A closure means or door 115, which is preferably made from sheet metal and has an arcuate outer surface thereon, normally closes ingress opening 114, but is moved to open position (FIGURE 2) as the respective traveling collection chamber 60 moves into registration with the outer end of the stationary waste receptacle C.

As best shown in FIGURES 2 and 4, the door or closure member 115 is attached to a substantially L.-shaped arm 116 which extends toward duct 20, within the receptacle C, and is pivotally connected to upper wall 110. To this end, the inner end of arm 116 is fixed on the lower end of a pivot shaft 117 journaled in a bearing 120 carried by the top wall 119 of receptacle C. Pivot shaft 117 extends upwardly through bearing 120 and has a collar 121 lixed thereon and bearing against the upper surface of bearing 120 for supporting pivot shaft 117, arm 116 and door 115. The upper portion of pivot shaft 117 has a bar 122 fixed thereon or formed integral therewith, to the inner end of which a tension spring 123 is connected. The other end of tension spring 123 is connected to a suitable spring anchor 124 carried by the top wall 110 of receptacle C. Top wall 110 is preferably reinforced, as at 125.

The outer end of bar i122 has one end of a control arm or finger 126 attached thereto, which control arm extends outwardly and then extends at an angle and is normally substantially alined with the angularly arranged panel 112, but overlies and extends outwardly beyond upper wall 1111 of stationary waste receptacle C. The tension spring V123 normally tends to maintain bar 122 in alinement between pivot shaft 117 and spring anchor 124 and, in so doing, spring 123 normally maintains control arm 126 against a stop 127, shown inthe form of an angle clip, suitably secured to and projecting upwardly from the top wall 110. Thus, spring 123 normally urges door 115 to closed position.

It will be observed in FIGURES 2, 3 and 7 that the upper vwall 62 of traveling collection chamber 60 is provided with an abutment 130 which, with movement of traveling cleaner A, engages and imparts movement to control arm 126. In so doing', control varm 126 moves from the position of FIGURE 4 to that of FIGURE 2, somewhat in advance of movement of the traveling collection chamber 6i) past the free end of the stationary waste receptacle C, to thus open door 115 so the contents of traveling collection chamber C, discharged into the open outer portion of stationary waste receptacle C, are sucked through opening 114 and pass through receptacle C into the duct 20 and, thence, to the suction collection unit or collection station 21 in FIGURE l.

With further forward movement of the corresponding .traveling cleaner A, abutment 130, carried ,by traveling collection chamber 60, moves out of engagement with and beyond the free end of control arm 126. Spring 123 then returns door to closed position as shown in FIGURE 4. It will be noted that abutment 131i is shown in the form of a sleeve or roller journaled on a post 131 whose enlarged lower portion is suitably secured to the upper wall 62 of traveling collection chamber 60.

It will be observed in FIGURE l that the traveling cleaners A, A and A are shown in relatively staggered relationship so that ordinarily only one of them at a time occupies dumping position `adjacent. its corresponding stationary waste receptacle. This is desirable so that a maximum amount of negative pressure may be present without using an unnecessarily large and expensive motor and blower equipment for creating suction at the station 21.

t is apparent, by referring to FIGURE 1, that the suction nozzles y46 (FIGURES 2 and 3) pass immediately above the floor F adjacent opposite sides of the machines in the rows, a, b, d, e, q, and h. Thus, the nozzles 46 associated with each of the traveling cleaners A, A' and A form separate zones of suction currents at the floor F which zones move longitudinally of the aisles between adjacent rows of machines, the separate zones of suction currents drawing the lint and other light particles from the iioor and conveying them to collection chambers 60 which move with the receptive suction zones for temporarily collecting and retaining the lint and other light particles attracted by the suction zones. Periodically or with each cycle in movement of the suction zones longitudinally of and between adjacent rows of machines, the lint and other particles, which have been collected and moved with the suction Zones, are automatically transferred to a second suction apparatus, embodied in the corresponding stationary waste receptacles C, C and C, and thus conveyed to a common collection station. Y

It will be noted that, although in the arrangement of FIGURE l, there are no trackways above the rows of machines c and f, the aisle between the rows b and c is swept by the traveling cleaner A as it moves from left to right in FIGURE l; the aisle between the rows of machines c and d is swept by the traveling cleaner A with movement thereof from right to left in FIGURE l, the aisle between the rows of machines e and j is swept by the traveling cleaner A as it moves from left to right in FIGURE l, and the aisle between the rows of machines f and q is swept by the traveling cleaner A as it moves from right to left in FIGURE l.

Although the trackways B, B and B each extends above two rows of machines, one or more trackways may be arranged so that each such trackway extends above only one of several rows of machines, depending upon the length of the rows and the capacity of the individual traveling collection chambers 60. It is also contemplated that the blower 25 of each suction iioor cleaner may be positioned beneath the corresponding suction casing 3S so the lint, dust and other particles attracted by the suction nozzles 46 then iiow downwardly through the central portion 34 of the suction casing 35, into the blower casing 25 and, thence, into the collection chamber 60, all without departing from the spirit of the invention. The traveling suction cleaner A is constructed in the manner illustrated and described in order to minimize the height of that portion of the apparatus disposed above the trackway B and to simplify the construction ofthe apparatus.

As heretofore stated, it has become common practice in most textile mills to use traveling blowers which direct blasts of air against and beneath machines to prevent accumulations of lint thereon. The present apparatus may be economically installed in such mills, since the trackways alreadyA in the mills may be utilized for this purpose.

Modified form of the invention In FIGURES 10 thru 13, a somewhatmodiied form of the invention is illustrated in kassociation with a spinning frame, typical of various types of textile machines?, and

which, in this instance, includes a creel 140 which supports yarn packages 141 from which strands of roving, yarn or othertextile material Y are drawn by sets of drafting rolls generally designated at 142. The strands of textile material are drafted as they pass through the drafting rolls 142 and then extend downwardly to spindles 143, to which they are directed by means of the usual rings and travelers carried by a ring rail 146. As is usual, the ring rail 146 is vertically reciprocated for di-recting the yarn to bobbins mounted on the spindles 143.

f The traveling cleaner illustrated in FIGURE 10 is sub stantially the same as the traveling cleaner disclosed in FIGURES 1 thru 9, with the exception of the tubes or sleeves depending from the ducts or arms of the lower or suction chamber'. Accordingly, with the exception of the suction tubes and associated elements in FIGURES 10 thru 13, all remaining elements of the traveling cleaner' shall bear the same reference characters as are applied to like parts in FIGURES 1 thru 9, in order to avoid repetitive description.

T he modified form of suction tubes or sleeves in FIG- URES 10, l2 and 13 are broadly designated at 150, 150. The sleeves150, 150', like the sleeves 45 in FIGURE 3, are communicatively,connected to the curved ends of the respective arms 43, 44. Since both of the sleeves, 150, 151i are identical only the elements associated with sleeve 156 will be described in detail and like elements associated with sleeve 150 will bear the same reference characters with the prime notation added.

Sleeve'150 is also made of a material which is preferably flexible or pliable but suiliciently rigid in order to support a plurality of vertically spaced, intermediate and substantially laterally or inwardly extending nozzles. Two such nozzles are shown in FIGURE l which are respectively indicated at 151, 152. lNozzles 151, 152 are elevatedwith respect toa floor sweeping nozzle 153 connected to the lower end' of sleeve 151?. Nozzle 153 may be substantially the same as the nozzle 46 in FIGURE 3. The raised or intermediate nozzles 151, 152 may be of various lengths, as shown in FIGURE l0, in order that the open free ends thereof move closely adjacent particular elements of the corresponding machines from which lint or other light material is to be withdrawn by suction currents in the nozzles 151, 152.

Asshown in FIGURE 1l, each nozzle 151, 152 preferably yhas a relatively narrow or somewhatk restricted but liared free end portion 155 thereon so as to effect a maximum amount of suction or negative pressure closely adjacent the variousl machine elements past vwhich it moves, so the suction currents draw lint and the like into and through nozzles 151, 152, into the sleeve 150 and, thence, into and through suction chamber 35. The irnpellerpin chamber 25 then blows the lint into the traveling collection chamber 60;

It frequently happens that a "blow-up of lint is pro-4 duced adjacent the path of travel of the sweeping nozzle 153 as it traverses an aisle between adjacent machines.

That is, smallparticles of lint and other light materialare caused to rise from the iloor adjacent the machines due to chanecurrents of air which might be produced merely by a person walking adjacent the machines. Also,'such blow-ups may be produced by conventional blower-'type traveling cleaners when such are used in association with 10 air deilector element 160 is preferably provided which extends across the inside of the lower portion of sleeve 150 to produce a somewhat confined suction zone in- `wardly of the ports 157, which suction zone is open at its upper end and is closed at its lower end preferably by curving the lower portion of the baille 160 outwardly and suitably attaching the same to the inner Wall of sleeve 150.

It is thus seen that, as the traveling suction cleaner moves along trackway B with the modified form of sleeve 150 thereon, lintv and other light material is sucked from the oor by the respective nozzle 153 while. lint which may have scattered above the level of the nozzle 153 is drawn into the suction ports 157 and any lint which may tend to accumulate on the ring rail, the rings, the travelers and the drafting rolls of a spinning frame,

for example, as well as other elements of the machine as may be desired, will be drawn into the corresponding intermediate or auxiliary nozzles, and all such lint and other light material will be drawn into the suction casing 35 where the current is converted to a blowing current and blows the lint and other light material through the blower casing 25 and into the collection chamber 60.

Although the two forms of the present invention illustrated in the annexed drawings are shown equipped with but a single suction nozzle for traversing the floor in each aisle, it is contemplated thatseveral such nozzles may be used Which may depend from a common duct extending from the central portion of the suction casing orgfrom independent ducts extending from the central portion of the suction casing. Also, the traveling suction cleaner may be equipped with a nozzle or nozzles which traverse the aisle along only one side of a row of machines, as may be desirable in removing lint from the floor in aisles bet-Ween rows of looms. It is also contemplated that, in f some instances, the present apparatus described herein may be combined with other types of apparatus in which lint is blown or sucked from machine surfaces and/or from other room surfaces, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings and speciication there have been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention and, although speciiic terms are employed, theyare used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, they scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

l. Traveling suction cleaning apparatus for the disposition of lint and other light material from the floor the present suction cleaning apparatus. The nozzle 153 must move in relatively close proximity to the floor Fin order that the suction current thereat is effective in drawing lint and the like into the` nozzle 153. Therefore, in order that ,-lintand the like, which is caused to iloat in the air-immediately above wthefnozzle 153due to blowv L more vertical rowsadjacent the'lower portion of the tube 150. as shown in FIGURE 13.A vA suitable bale or in a textile mill having textile machines arranged in rows therein, comprising a suction blower having a casing, at least one flexible tube depending from the casing and having a nozzle opening in its lower portion, means supporting the suction blower and traversing it in a predetermined path over the machines with the nozzle opening suiiciently close to floor surfaces to be cleaned to cause lint and other light material on said surfaces to be sucked into the nozzle opening by the suction blower, a collection chamber mounted to travel lwith said blower and adapted to receive material picked up by said nozzle,isaidl collection chamber being provided with a normally closedv matically for periodically momentarily opening said door and discharging the collected material'frorn the collection chamber into the receptacle.

2. Apparatus for removinglintand other light material from the iioorv'adjacent rows of textile machines cornprising a combination suctionV and blower device, means for mounting andtraversing the device in a predetermined path over the machines, duct means communicating with the suctionl side of said device and depending therefromv adjacent at least one side of a row of said machines and vhaving a floor-sweeping nozzle thereon adapted to be disposedin sufficiently close relation tothe floor to suck lint and other light material therefrom, a collection cham-V ber ycommunicating with the blowing side of said device movable with said device, and said collection chamber being arranged to receive air and material from said device, means to momentarily open and then close said chamber for discharging the material therefrom while in open position, and means positoned in said path for actuating said opening and closing means at predetermined intervals.

3. A structure according to claim 2 including at least one additional nozzle communicating with said duct means on a level above the flooiwsweeping nozzle and adapted to traverse elements of said machines in suflciently close relation thereto to suck lint and -other material therefrom.

4. A structure according `to claim 2 wherein said duct lmeans includes a sleeve to the lower end of which said floor-sweeping nozzle is communicatively connected, and the wall of said sleeve adjacent said floor-Sweeping nozzle having a plurality of suction ports therethrough whereby ily and other light particles above the level of the mouth of said oorsweeping nozzle may be sucked into the sleeve through said ports.

5. A structure according to claim 4 in which said sleeve is provided with a baffle within the same spaced from said ports in such manner as to form a suction channel inside said sleeve communicating with said ports.

6. Apparatus for the disposition of lint and other lightv material in a textile mill having machines arranged in rows therein comprising a device creating a suction current of air, means for moving said device longitudinally of and Aabove the machines in a row, at least one flexible conduit connected to any extending from said device and terminating closely adjacent the iloor supporting the machines upon which the lint and' other light material is deposited, a collection chamber for said lint and other light material movable with and communicating with said device, said chamber being normally closed to the discharge of said material therefrom, actuating means adjacent the path of travel of said device, andmeans operable by said actuating means for periodically opening the chamber for removal of the material therefrom.

7. Apparatus for the disposition of lint and other light material in a textile mill having machines arranged in rows therein comprising a device creating a suction current of air, means for moving said device longitudinally of and above the machines in a row, a pair of exible elongated suction tubes depending from said device astraddle said row, eachtube having at least one nozzle thereon with its mouth movable closely adjacent surfaces upon which the lint and other light material has been deposited, a collector for said material movable with said device and being normally closed to the discharge of said material therefrom, a receptacle vadjacent the path of travel of the collector, means automatically operable forperiodically opening the collector, and means for transferring material from the collector to the receptacle.

8. Apparatus for the disposition of lint and other light material in a textile mill having textile machines arranged in` rows therein `comprising a `suction blower having a casing, at least one nozzle connected to the inlet of said casing, means vsupporting the blower and traversing it in a predetermined path over the machines in at least one of said rows with the mouth of said nozzle spaced l closeiy adjacent surfaces upon which said lint and other light material may alight so as to draw the same into the blower, acollection chamber for said lint and other light material communicating w-ith'the outlet of'said blower and mounted to travel along with said blower, av receptacle adjacent the path of travel of saidvcollection chamber, a normally closed movable door on said collection chamber, and means operable automatically for periodically momentarily opening saidv door andV transferring the material AVcollectednin said chamber from the chamber into said receptacle under air pressure` from the blower.

9; Apparatus `for removinglinty and other material gen-v erated by and deposited upon textile machines and adjacent surfaces comprising a combination Suction and blower device, duct means communicating with the suction side of said device and extending therefrom adjacent aty least one side of a row of said machines and having at least one nozzle thereon `adapted to be disposed in suciently close relation to surfaces to suck lint and other material therefrom, a lint collection chamber communieating with the blower side of said device and arranged to receive air and material from said device, means for moving said device above said row of machines, receivingl means adjacent the path of travel of the collection chamber, and means operable automatically for momentarily opening said collection chamber and discharging said material therefrom into said receiving means.

l0. Apparatus for removing lint and other material from rows of textilemachines comprising a combination suction and blower device, llexible duct means communicating with the suction side of said device and depending therefrom adjacent at least one side of a row of said machines and having at least one nozzle thereon adapted to be disposed in sufficiently close relation tothe oor to suck the lint and other material therefrom, at least one additional nozzle communicating with said duct means and being movable in a path suiciently close to elements of the machines to also suck lint and other light material therefrom, a collection chamber communicating With the blower side of said device and arranged to receive air and material from said device, means for moving said device above said row of machines, a receptacle adjacent the path of travel of the collection chamber, and means oper-V able automatically for momentarily opening said collection chamber and discharging said material therefrom into the receptacle. e

ll. Apparatus for removing lint and other' material from the floor adjacent rowsof textile machines comprising a combination suction andblower device, means for moving the device above a row of textile machines, flexible duct means communicating with the suction side of said device and depending therefrom adjacent at least one side of a row of said machines, a door-sweeping suction nozzle on the free end of the exible duct means movable in sufficiently close relation to the oor to suck lint and other material therefrom, a collection chamber communicating with the blowerl side of said device and movable with said device, said collection chamber being arranged to receive air and material fromV said device, a filter in at least one wall of the collection chamber, a movable door means on said chamber, means normally maintaining the door means .in closed position, a receptacle in the path of` travel of said collection chamber, and means for opening said door means to transfer collected material from said chamber into said receptacle.

l2. A suction sweeper for cleaning the aisles between adjacent rows of textile machines comprising a blower movable longitudinally of and above at least one of the rows of machines, said blower including a blower casing,

an impeller within the blower casing, said blower casing having an air outlet portion thereon, a collection cham-V er .connectedto said outlet portion andfhaving at least one vat least partially foraminated wall thereon whereby the impeller causes air to flow into and throughthe collection chamber, said blower casing having an air inlet opening, a suction casing disposed in close proximity to the blower casing and having communication with said inlet opening whereby an air suction current is caused to ow in the Asuctionv casing, hollow "armsextending' outwardly from said suction casing, a suction tube communicating with and depending from each of said arms, a nozzle on the lower end of each suction tube adapted for movement in close proximity to the oor, whereby said suction current causes loose material o n the oor to be sucked into the nozzles,`through the tubes and through the suction casing, and the air-blast from the impeller-,con-

veys said material through the blower casing and into the collection chamber, at least one waste receptacle disposed adjacent the path of travel of said collection chamber and being connected with a source of suction, proximal portions of the collection chamber and the receptacle having closable openings therein, and means operable automatically upon registration of the closable openings of the collection chamber and the receptacle for momentarily opening the closable openings whereby the material flows from the collection chamber into the receptacle.

13. Apparatus adapted to be moved upon a track above at least one row of textile machines for cleaning the floor adjacent said machines, comprising a collection chamber having at least one inlet' and at least one outlet, for respectively drawing air thereinto and exhausting air therefrom, fan means for causing air to iiow into said inlet, through said chamber and out of said outlet, duct means communicating with the inlet of, and movable with, said chamber, a nozzle on said duct means adapted to move in suiciently close relation to the floor adjacentthe row of machines so that the air owing thereinto sucks lint and other material into the nozzle and conveys the material through the duct means and into said chamber, said chamber having door means normally closed to the discharge of lint therethrough, a receptacle provided with an open end disposed adjacent the path of travel offsaid collection chamber, and means operable automatically for opening said door means when said chamber moves adjacent said receptacle and transferring material from said chamber into said receptacle.

14. A structure according to claim 13 including movable closure means for the open end of said receptacle, and means operable automatically upon registration of the collection chamber with the receptacle for'momentarily opening said closure means.

15. A structure according to claim 13 including movable closure means for the open end of said receptacle, means operable automatically upon registration of the collection chamber with the receptacle for momentarily opening said closure means, and means for creating a suction current in said receptacle to assist movement of said material from the collection chamber into the receptacle.

16. Apparatus for cleaning the loor and other surfaces, adjacent a row of textile machines in a room, adapted to travel on a trackway mounted above said machines, comprising a motor driven carriage mounted for travel along said trackway, said carriage including a driven air impeller wheel, a blower casing enclosing said wheel and having an inlet and an outlet portion thereon, a normally closed at least partially perforate collection chamber attached to said out-let portion, a suction casing adjacent said blower casing and having communication with the inlet of said blower casing whereby said impeller wheel creates a suction current within said suction casing, at least one tubular arm extending o-utwardly from said suction casing and having a depending sleeve thereon provided with a nozzleV on at least its lower end whereby said nozzle may be positioned in close proximity to the iloor to suck lint and other light material thereinto whereby said material is conveyed into said collection chamber, a receptacle `disposed adjacent the path of travel of said collection chamber and being connected'to aA means for establishing communication between the collection chamber and the receptacle includes iirst and second door means on the proximal ends of the collection chamber and the receptacle, respectively, and means operable automatically with registration of said proximal ends of the collection chamber and the receptacle for automatically momentarily opening said rst and second door means.

18. In an apparatus for cleaning the licor adjacent a row of textile machines having a trackway mounted above and extending longitudinally of the row of machines and a blower mounted for travel along said trackway; the combination therewith of a suction casing communicating with the inlet of said blower, at least one nozzle communicating with the-suction casing and depending therefrom in close proximity to the iioor, `a collection chamber carried by and communicating with the outlet of the blower and having a discharge opening in its end remote from the blower, a movable door adapted to close said discharge opening, a shifter element carried by said blower, a mechanical connection between said door and said shifter element, a receptacle provided with an ingress opening therein adjacent the path of tra'vel of the collection chamber, and means on said trackway for shifting said shifter element in one direction relative to the blower for opening said door upon registration of the discharge opening of said collection chamber with the ingress opening of said receptacle and for then shifting rsaid element in the opposite direction for Closing said door whereby lmaterial is sucked fromthe floor by the nozzle, delivered 'to 'and collected in the collection chamber and periodically discharged from the collection chamber into the receptacle. v

19. A `structure according to claim 18 in which said means for Ashifting said shifter elementcomprises a pair of relatively closely spaced fingers carried by and projecting-from said trackway adjacent said receptacle, a normally stationary rotatable cam carried by said blower, follower mens carried by said shifter element and engaging said cam, and means successively engageable with said ngers for imparting successive steps in rotation to said cam. l j

20. A structure according to claim 18 including a closure member normally closing the ingress opening of said receptacle, an actuating arm connected with said closure member and projecting from the receptacle, and means movable with said blower and engageable with said actuating arm for momentarily moving said closure member to open position as the collection chamber moves adjacent the receptacle.

2l. A structure according to claim 20 including resilient means normally maintaining said closure member in said normally closed position, and said means engageable with said actuating arm being movable out of engagement with the actuating arm to release the closure member and permit the same to returnr to closed position as the collection chamber moves beyond 'the receptacle.

22. Apparatus for the disposition of lint and other light material in a textile mill having machines arranged in rows therein comprising a device creating `a suction current of air, means for moving said device longitudinally of and above the machines in a row, at least one nozzle depending from said device and terminating closely adjacent elements from which the lint and other light material are to be drawn, a collection chamber for said lint and other light material movable with and communicating with said device, a receptacle disposed adjacent the `path of travel of said collection chamber and being connected to a source of suction, and means automatically operable with registration of the collection chamber with the receptacle for establishing 'communication therebetween Vand transfer-ring material from the collection chamber into .said'receptacle.

23. Apparatus for cleaning the oor in a textile mill having textile machines arranged in rows therein comprising a device creating a suction current of air, means for moving said device longitudinally of and above-the i machines in a ro-w, a pair of elongated suction tubes depending from said device astraddle said row, each tube ableA closelyv adja'cent the floor for picking, up lintI and' other light material, a collector for said material movable with said device, a receptacle disposed adjacent the path of travel of said collector and'connected to a source of suction, and means automatically operable upon registration of the collector withl the receptacle for establishing communication therebetween to transfer material from the collector into said receptacle.

24. Apparatus for the pickup, collection and disposition of lint and other light materiall collecting on the iloor and other surfaces in a textile mill having textile machines arrangedv in rows therein comprising a device creating a suction current of air, means for moving said device longitudinally of and above the machines in a row, atleast `one flexible conduit connected to said device and having a llexible iioor sweeping nozzle moxable adjacent the iioor for receiving lint and the like, a collection chamber for said lint and other light material movable with and commuuicatingwith said device, said chamber being normally closed to the discharge of said material therefrom, receiving means adjacent the path of travel of said collection chamber, and means automatically operable for opening the chamber and transferring material from said chamber into said receiving means.

25. Apparatus for. the disposition of lint and other iight material in a textile mill having machines arranged in rows therein coniprisinga device creatingasuction current of air, means for movingsaid device longitudinally of and above the machines ina row, atleastnone. y

16' suctioninozzle connected to said device for receiving lint and, the/like, a collectionschamber for, said lint and other lightmaterialmovable with andY communicating with said device, saidchamber being-normally closed tothe discharge ofL said' material therefrom, a receptacle having anopening therein disposed adiacent the path of travel of` said'collectionchamber, means forproducing suction iny saidv receptacle, and means automatically operable forV opening the chamber'when said chamber moves adjacentrsaid receptacle` and transferring material into said receptacle.

ReierencesCitedin the iile of this patent UNITED-STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Advertisement in Textile World, March 19H-page?v 9;-1-by, the 4Parks-'CramerI Co.

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEICE CERTIFICATE OF CURRECTIGN December 5, 1961 Ptent' No, ,.',3,011,202

Grover B. Holtzclaw he above numbeed patt error appears S in t Patent should read as It is hereby certified tha said Letters ent requiring correction and that Jehe corrected below.

d" and linsert, the same lumn 11, 1ne 33, for

for "mens" rea-d -line 3, strike out "van l '1n same line 3; same eo columnl 14, line 33, line 16, for ,"moxable Column 11, before "movable", "any'fread and means eo1umn115,

signed and sealed this 17th' day of April 1962;,

"(SEAL) Attest:

EsToN e. JOHNSONl Commissioner of Patents Attestng Officer DAVID L. LADD f 

